PEER GYNT: UTFOR STUPET

Norway’s most spectacular outdoors stage, Fryajuvet in Gudbrandsdalen, is the arena for this extreme new rendition of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. A multi-visual dance performance, written and supervised by Peer Gynt himself; Svein Sturla Hungnes, and choreographed by brothers André and Stian Danielsen. Featuring some of Norway’s most talented young dancers, dressed in beautiful costumes, all in an outrageously stunning location, while gigantic 3D mapping effects create incredible illusions like blood and slime sliding down the mountainside.

The entire concept of Peer Gynt: Utfor Stupet is based on the famous “night scene” from Peer Gynt. An hour-long score tells the story of an ageing Peer, haunted by voices in his head, confronted by all the people he has failed, disappointed or betrayed. Truly a breathtaking production, a very personal project for me, and musically one of my proudest moments.

Utfor Stupet was my first dive into the endlessly fascinating world of Peer Gynt. The following year I would return to write the songs and score for Peer Gynt: Selvets Keiser…